Beijing: Dong Jun new defence minister, 9 generals removed

Today's news: South Africa has filed a complaint for genocide against Israel with the Hague Court; Argentina officially confirms it will not join the Brics on 1 January 2024; Singapore raises taxes on electronic cigarettes; In Kazakhstan 50 requests for help per day against violence against women.

CHINA

The People's Republic of China has announced the appointment of former Navy chief Dong Jun, 62, as the new Defense Minister, replacing Li Shangfu, who has not appeared in public since August 26 and has long been identified as one of the victims of the “purges” underway in Beijing. Before becoming Navy chief in 2021, Dong served as deputy commander of the East Sea Fleet, the main force responsible for military maneuvers around Taiwan. Also yesterday, the Central Committee of the National People's Congress removed 9 generals of the People's Liberation Army from the political body, a step that brings with it the end of their judicial immunity.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

South Africa has filed a complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague for the crime of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, after almost three months of incessant Israeli bombing. In the text - which will have to be discussed - South Africa describes Israel's actions in Gaza as "of a genocidal character because they aim at the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group". Israel rejected South Africa's move as "unfounded" and "defamatory".

ARGENTINA-BRICS

In a letter addressed to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the new president Javier Milei officially confirmed that on January 1 Argentina will not join the Brics group, the counterpart of the G7 strongly supported politically by Beijing. Milei explained that the decisions taken by the previous government have been reviewed. Argentina was among the six countries expected to join the group by 2024 along with Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

INDONESIA

Indonesia will impose a new tax on e-cigarettes starting January 1, raising existing excise duties by 10%. “It has been proven that long-term consumption of e-cigarettes harms people's health,” the ministry said, adding that the tax on e-cigarettes is also necessary to bring them into line with traditional cigarettes. Indonesia, which has one of the highest smoking rates in the world, had already imposed a 57% excise tax on essences used for e-cigarettes in 2018.

RUSSIA

In a surprise move, the mayor of Novosibirsk, the main city in Siberia, Anatoly Lokot, a 65-year-old KPRF communist, elected for the first time in 2014 and re-elected in 2019, considered one of the best administrators in Russia, resigned. He fought corruption at all levels and achieved effective urban recovery, but did not accept the annulment of the next elections.

KYRGYZSTAN-QATAR

The Bishkek parliament has ratified the cooperation agreement with Qatar in the military sector, signed last summer during the visit of Sheikh Tamim ben Hamad al-Tani, which inaugurates Doha's activity in Central Asia not only with projects economic, but also with joint exercises, technological exchanges and agreed plans of the armies.

KAZAKHSTAN

A serious scandal in Kazakhstan is linked to the murder of a woman, Saltanat Nukenova, of which the ex-minister Kuandyk Bišimbaev is accused, which makes the spread of feminicide in the country even more evident, with over 50 requests for help a day from part of women subjected to violence of various kinds, and we see no reactions in this regard from the authorities.

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